FBI arrests British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell

[Wayfaring Stranger]

Anybody who thinks there will be more that 2 arrests of child rapers per decade please raise your hands.

Cracking The $150 Billion Business Of Human Trafficking

The Organization For Security and Co-operation in Europe finds that human trafficking affects ... [+]

OSCE

This comes at a time when global statistics on human trafficking are on the rise: every day thousands of women, men and children are trafficked worldwide for various exploitative purposes. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that there are currently 25 million victims of human trafficking around the world.

Human trafficking is an issue for all countries and communities. Importantly (and surprising for many), human trafficking does not necessarily involve the crossing of international borders. For example, the Ontario member of parliament, Laurie Scott, admits to having been shocked to learn that 90% of the local human sex trafficked victims were Canadian-born as featured in the Toronto Film Fest documentary Girl Up.

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Also not intuitive for many is the fact that women make up the largest proportion of traffickers. In some parts of the world, women trafficking women is the norm according to the 2017 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which covers 155 countries.

Globally, governments and civil society have increased their efforts to combat human trafficking. What is clear is that governments cannot address this issue alone and rely on the private sector and civil society organization to join forces and scale-up solutions.

Why have these public-private partnership strategies proven to be successful? It turns out, human trafficking often involves the legitimate services of the banking system, transportation companies, the hospitality business, health care providers, and digital social media platforms.

The Business of Human Trafficking

The motive of traffickers—regardless of the type of human trafficking they are engaged in—is clear: money! Annually, the business of human trafficking globally generates an estimated $150 billion in profits according to the ILO.

According to Polaris (the nonprofit organization that runs the national human trafficking hotline in the United States and which also boycotted the White House Summit), examples for private sector involvement in human trafficking are abundant: traffickers use banks to deposit and launder their earnings; they use planes, buses and taxi services to transport their victims; they book hotel rooms integral also to sex trafficking; and, they are active users of social media platforms to recruit and advertise the services of their victims. 

“Human trafficking is a $150 billion a year global industry and can’t be fully addressed without businesses taking active and effective measures to reduce the potential for exploitation within their own systems.” 

Bradley Myles, chief executive officer of Polaris, the nonprofit organization that runs the national human-trafficking hotline in the United States.

While many human trafficking activities remain underground, an increased understanding of how human traffickers use legitimate services has helped companies in various industries begin to crack the business of human trafficking. In many instances, private sector initiated efforts to combat human trafficking (often as part of their corporate social responsibility activities) have also helped companies position themselves as “service provider of choice.”

The examples below provide only a glimpse into how private sector actors have started combatting human trafficking.

The banking sector

Traffickers often help trafficked individuals open bank accounts and/or apply for credit cards. They use banks and money remittance services to funnel money—often large amounts of cash. Moreover, traffickers frequently accompany victims to financial institutions to monitor the transaction and structure deposits to fall just under thresholds which could trigger investigation by the financial institutions. 

To limit their interactions with traditional financial institutions, traffickers often revert to a growing use of virtual currencies like bitcoin, which can foster a conducive environment for laundering money from criminal activity. Yet, computer analysts have pioneered techniques that provide new insights into human-trafficking networks.

Over the past years financial institutions have done significant analysis to detect trafficking operations. The industry, including through the Lichtenstein Initiative, understands that they can help combat human trafficking through tougher fiscal investigations, more coordinated freezing of criminal assets and expanded digital payrolls. In 2014 the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory that included a list of potential indicators of trafficking. 

In practice, financial institutions such as U.S. Bank are taking action. For example, they had learned that traffickers often move victims into localities of mega sport events to take advantage of the influx of partying visitors (including the American football Super Bowl). So when the 2018 Super Bowl took place at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota, the bank put their financial intelligence and anti-money laundering capabilities to work to “help law enforcement tackle the sex trafficking surge” according to the ABA Banking Journal.

What did U.S. Bank learn? Cited red flags for banking staff included customers being accompanied by someone who appears to control them; individuals having multiple accounts in their own name; heavy use of cash; multiple simultaneous charges on ride-hailing services (which sex traffickers are said to prefer over taxis because the traffickers can track their victims’ rides in real-time via the app); and multiple simultaneous hotel room charges.

And then there were the charges that bank officers won't see in a typical account associated with sex trafficking: no utility payments, no purchases related to hobbies, or mortgage payments.

The hotel industry

According to research by Polaris, traffickers don’t always look for the cheapest hotels. They choose locations based on convenience, buyer comfort, price, hotel policies and procedures. An important decision making point for traffickers often is whether the establishment is likely to be collaborating with potential law enforcement. Hence, hotel chain franchises often are traffickers’ preferred choice as they offer a sense of anonymity and safety. 

Cited red flags for hotel staff include extended stays of customers with few possessions; multiple rooms under one name; someone waits onsite (e.g. in parking lot); room is booked with business card but is paid in cash; excessive foot traffic in and out of rooms.

What are hotels doing to combat human trafficking in practice? Take the example of Marriott International, which globally rolled out human trafficking awareness training for more than 500,000 employees since 2017. Efforts by the hotel chain are also underway to educate hotel customers to help identify and report suspicious human trafficking activities. What’s more, efforts have been made to provide potential victims with information on how to access help. Moreover, Marriott International created a program with the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery with the objective to prepare trafficked survivors for careers in the hospitality industry.

The health care sector

There is growing evidence on the range of health consequences faced by individuals who have experienced human trafficking. This can include sexual and reproductive health issues, mental health concerns, on-the-job injuries caused by unsafe working conditions, and issues related to substance use. In fact, research suggests that traffickers often seek out drug rehabilitation centers as well as behavioral and mental health centers to recruit their victims, given their potential vulnerability to becoming dependent and being controlled.

Hotline data and survey evidence indicates that the health care industry can be a larger player in identifying, treating, and responding appropriately to individuals who are at risk or who have been trafficked.

What are health care providers doing to combat human trafficking? To respond more effectively to increasing human trafficking incidents, the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center, designed an online training course to educate health care providers, social workers, public health professionals, and behavioral health professionals. The target audience includes physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, dentists, psychologists, social workers, case managers, school counselors, and other health professionals.

Getting trafficked persons back on track

Having endured trauma, often lacking self-confidence and having very limited access to resources, survivors can easily end up back in situations of exploitation if they cannot turn to a strong support system. Thus, job readiness efforts by potential employers and access to financial resources can be critical to survivors of human trafficking.

A recently launched United Nations Hope for Justice Initiative in partnership with leading banks from Austria, Canada, Great Britain and the United States, offers survivors of human trafficking accounts and debit cards—financial service products that can provide survivors with a life line, especially if their captors stole their financial identity or ruined their credit. The concept of offering survivors banking services was pioneered by HSBC in Britain, and is part of the Lichtenstein Initiative to harness the power of the global financial industry to combat human trafficking. 

Not being able to pay for reliable transport services can also be a huge obstacle for survivors to leave their trafficking situation or to enable trafficked persons to return to a location of safety. Airline tickets can particularly be costly. Delta Air Lines’ SkyWish Program is an example of how a company leverages its resources in partnership with its customers and employees to help break cycles of abuse and ensure survivors have access to flight tickets and a way out.

At the White House Summit, the U.S. president signed an executive order meant to combat human trafficking and online child exploitation, including by adding a new position at the White House to focus on the issue. Irrespectively of governments’ plans and policies, the private sector can play a larger role in addressing the issue. What’s more, as customers each one of us can encourage financial service providers, hotels, health care companies and transportation providers in our communities to join forces.

Public-private sector action can ensure that victims of human trafficking are not left voiceless and don’t remain unseen by society.

 

 

 

 

 

[northern star]

Ghislaine Maxwell's latest request for bail denied by US federal judge

• Maxwell charged with involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes
• Trial of British socialite scheduled to begin in July next year

 

Officials in July announce charges against Maxwell. Federal agents arrested Maxwell in New Hampshire. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

 

Victoria Bekiempis in New York

Mon 28 Dec 2020 21.17 GMT

 

The British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell’s latest request for bail in her Manhattan federal court sex crimes case has been denied, new court filings revealed Monday.

In denying Maxwell’s request again, Manhattan federal court judge Alison J Nathan pointed to her previous ruling on the issue, which determined that she was a flight risk. Maxwell has been detained since her 2 July arrest and has been unsuccessful in previous efforts to secure her release pending trial.

 

Maxwell’s lawyers had recently asked Nathan to release her on a $28.5m bail package, with home confinement enforced by electronic monitoring. They claimed that Maxwell had close ties to the US, including a husband.

“On July 14, 2020, this court conducted an extensive bail hearing and determined that pre-trial detention was warranted because the no conditions or set of conditions could reasonably assure the Defendant’s appearance at future proceedings,” Nathan wrote.

While the issue of bail can be reconsidered if a judge determines that there’s new information that could change things, Nathan said, “the court concludes that none of the new information that the defendant presented in support of her application has a material bearing on the court’s determination that she poses a flight risk.”

“Furthermore, for substantially the same reasons as the court determined that detention was warranted in the initial bail hearing, the court again concludes that no conditions of release can reasonably assure the defendant’s appearance at future proceedings,” Nathan also said.

Nathan’s full written opinion denying Maxwell bail is temporarily under seal.

Maxwell’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prosecutors allege that Maxwell was involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking of minor girls. Maxwell was a close friend of Epstein, a disgraced financier who lived the high life while hobnobbing with the world’s rich and powerful.

Maxwell denies the charges. Her trial is scheduled to begin in July 2021, and she faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.

Epstein killed himself in his Manhattan federal jail cell on 10 August last year, several weeks after his arrest on charges of sex trafficking girls as young as 14. Following Epstein’s death, scrutiny on Maxwell intensified.

Federal agents arrested Maxwell at a sprawling New Hampshire estate in July. Prosecutors accused Maxwell of “slithering” away into hiding following Epstein’s death. Her lawyers have contended she was trying to avoid the press.

[numnuts]

53 minutes ago, northern star said:

Ghislaine Maxwell's latest request for bail denied by US federal judge

 

She even got a good mention on BBC 'News At Ten' this evening. I wonder what the skanky slapper's prison cell is like. 

Edited December 28, 2020 by numnuts

[northern star]

Even the BBC! 

 

 

[HistoryIsComplex]

I bet they'll dump the entire operation on Maxwell, jail her, name and embarass a few "Island Visitors" they don't care for.

 

Case closed. A year later the public has forgotten everything.

[northern star]

1 hour ago, HistoryIsComplex said:

I bet they'll dump the entire operation on Maxwell, jail her, name and embarass a few "Island Visitors" they don't care for.

 

Case closed. A year later the public has forgotten everything.

 

A few scenarios, either the one you suggest, or Biden will get in and pardon her or do his best to make sure she gets bail at some other bogus appeal via statute of limitations, paying the victims off etc. I think the least likely scenario is that it will reach court in July. Something will occur - too many rich and powerful at stake to have that happen.

 

 

[northern star]

This chap reckons Maxwell was running a brothel in London in 1994! The police were observing activities from a house over the road but no prosecution was brought - royal protection perhaps?

 

 

[rhydra]

She probably had something to do with Elm guest house. I bet she's too dangerous to the establishment to be allowed to carry on breathing.

[northern star]

Exactly. The video above is dynamite, seeing as that is the time frame for which she is currently being charged and serving jail time for. "Very young girls going in and out of the house" - shows she was at it way back, involving many people, controlling events, from her own house, not just Epstein's "patsy" as her brother is claiming. And from what this chap is claiming, there must be police records of what was going on in that house, and photo evidence.

Edited March 17, 2021 by northern star

[Macnamara]

On 12/29/2020 at 10:33 PM, HistoryIsComplex said:

I bet they'll dump the entire operation on Maxwell, jail her, name and embarass a few "Island Visitors" they don't care for. Case closed. A year later the public has forgotten everything.

 

or they say she has died in prison but really they whisk her off to join epstein, brittan, janner and others in the sun somewhere in a deep state equivalent of witness protection except its protection for the deep state's, blackmail ring assets

[dumbcritic]

Some say the judge is also on the ''payroll''

 

 

[bamboozooka]

[EnigmaticWorld]

 

"British socialite"

 

Yep, it's just like regular white men and westerners being blamed for the recent wars, as if it's us regular white men that have religious plans to carve up the Middle East. Us Nationalists don't want to traffick your children, and us Nationalists are not the ones that want the Nile to Euphrates.

[northern star]

This is obviously all over the media, but interesting the MSM are letting this stuff out now, "never before seen images".

 

 

Prez and Pervert
Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein and President Bill Clinton smile together in never-before-seen images

 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14754212/ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein-bill-clinton-new-images/

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2021 by northern star

[Saved]

No idea who these two are but they wouldn't look out of place wearing rubber aprons in an Eli Roth film.

 

 

[EnigmaticWorld]

[northern star]

Is the black eye a signal to the elite "black eye" club, a message of some sort? It could be her only way of communicating what's going on behind the scenes regarding her protecting them.

[Saved]

17 minutes ago, northern star said:

Is the black eye a signal to the elite "black eye" club, a message of some sort? It could be her only way of communicating what's going on behind the scenes regarding her protecting them.

I thought exactly the same thing when I saw it. There are galleries of blackened eyes (usually just the one eye) belonging to everybody from the pope to John Kerry. 

[bamboozooka]

maxwell, epstein and clinton all in the same headline.

 

Judge rules to unseal dozens of documents about Ghislaine Maxwell's personal affairs, including those that reveal her and Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with the Clintons

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9747011/Judge-rules-unseal-dozens-documents-Ghislaine-Maxwells-personal-affairs.html

Edited July 2, 2021 by bamboozooka

[Athenry04]

I'm still dubious she's ever spent a night in jail.

[northern star]

4 minutes ago, Athenry04 said:

I'm still dubious she's ever spent a night in jail.

 

Yep. And with Bill Cosby getting off and Alison Mack of NXIVM getting a light sentence, its obvious Biden is just letting these people go.  I knew he would. Theyre all mates, in the elite pedo club together.

Edited July 2, 2021 by northern star

[northern star]

 

[bamboozooka]

[numnuts]

On 7/2/2021 at 11:59 PM, Athenry04 said:

I'm still dubious she's ever spent a night in jail.

 

I can understand your skepticism, but I think that she really is banged up. 

 

 

 

On 7/3/2021 at 12:03 AM, northern star said:

Yep. And with Bill Cosby getting off and Alison Mack of NXIVM getting a light sentence, its obvious Biden is just letting these people go. I knew he would. Theyre all mates, in the elite pedo club together.

 

If it is decided that Biden is to lose the 2024 presidential election, then I reckon he will be ordered to pardon Maxwell in his last days in office. Assuming that Maxwell does go down for more than another 3 years or so that is, which looks like a certainty to me. Even if that happens, she will have ended up doing 4 and a half years of porridge, which for someone like her is quite an accomplishment.

 

Maxwell turns 60 on Christmas Day this year as well. I don't think she will much like the idea of getting out at 63 plus. Not much for her to look forward to and she certainly won't be rejoining the glitzy social scene. Her trial does now seem finally set to get going next month. How do other folks think that this will all play out?

 

P.S. What really disgusted me about Cosby's release was the narrative pushed by the mass media, including the BBC (quite something post-Savile), that he was now going to try rebuilding his reputation. How, pray tell, does a convicted rapist, who got off quite lightly on a technicality in the end, get to rebuild their reputation? I am surprised that the BBC didn't sign him up to appear on this year's 'Strictly Come Dancing'.    

Edited October 23, 2021 by numnuts

[northern star]

On 10/23/2021 at 11:53 PM, numnuts said:

 

I can understand your skepticism, but I think that she really is banged up. 

 

 

 

 

If it is decided that Biden is to lose the 2024 presidential election, then I reckon he will be ordered to pardon Maxwell in his last days in office. Assuming that Maxwell does go down for more than another 3 years or so that is, which looks like a certainty to me. Even if that happens, she will have ended up doing 4 and a half years of porridge, which for someone like her is quite an accomplishment.

 

Maxwell turns 60 on Christmas Day this year as well. I don't think she will much like the idea of getting out at 63 plus. Not much for her to look forward to and she certainly won't be rejoining the glitzy social scene. Her trial does now seem finally set to get going next month. How do other folks think that this will all play out?

 

P.S. What really disgusted me about Cosby's release was the narrative pushed by the mass media, including the BBC (quite something post-Savile), that he was now going to try rebuilding his reputation. How, pray tell, does a convicted rapist, who got off quite lightly on a technicality in the end, get to rebuild their reputation? I am surprised that the BBC didn't sign him up to appear on this year's 'Strictly Come Dancing'.    

 

Who knows what really goes on behind the scenes with these people. I agree though if she really is in prison for all this time thats quite some public justice for once.

 

Accordint to the MSM the Queen threw "millions" at getting Andrew acquitted by the police. Recent revelations show the police really do serve the system and not the public, and do what they're told. Nothing to stop her throwing millions at the Maxwell case too, though I suspect, with it being out of this country, they will have her "die" to co-incide with the court case so all the media attention is on that rather than the huge international media circus that will undoubtledly occur otherwise. The things that could come out with a media spotlight on it would not bode well for any of the royals. So I reckon theyre prepping us for Queenie conveniently popping her clogs.